It's almost time to put pencils down, sit back, and watch the wonderful chaos of the NFL Draft unfold.
Part of the fun? Fans and media members alike are trying to predict the future.
NFL.com draft analyst Adam Rank released his mock draft on Tuesday. He only does one version and does not update it as we get closer to the NFL Draft. He has issued a pick for the New York Giants that no one could have seen coming.
While most mock drafts entertain the Abdul Carter vs. Travis Hunter debate, Rank takes a totally different posture. He does not have the Giants taking either of the two -- or a quarterback. He is recommending the Giants select the best running back in the draft.
He has the Giants selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.
He said on "Mock Draft Live" on Tuesday night on NFL Network that it would be a feel-good story for the Giants to take the best running back in the draft since Saquon Barkley, who left New York for the Philadelphia Eagles last offseason via free agency. It would be a chance to right a wrong, even if it came at the expense of a better prospect at a more important position.
He wrote on NFL.com that it would make the fan base love its G-Men once again.
"The O-line is a mess, and there are other needs -- but what you really need is a game-changer who will help the fans forget Saquon Barkley just won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles," Rank said. "OK, so they probably won't ever actually forget that, but still; you could have an offense with Malik Nabers, Jeanty, and Russell Wilson, and that’s ... not terrible? Take an offensive lineman in the second round. Take Ashton now and let your fan base love again."
Rank has Carter going to the Cleveland Browns and Hunter going to the New England Patriots with the picks directly before and after New York.
We might argue ... That kind of missed opportunity on Hunter wouldn't sit well with the New York faithful. At the same time, a Saquon 2.0? We understand the pitch.
